The Cowboy Boot

Kids are very active and they usually ruin a good pair of shoes pretty easily. While many parents just decide to buy cheap shoes for their kids to save money, some choose cowboy boots. There are a lot of reasons why some parents buy cowboy boots for their kids. The fashionable ones however are just into how cool cowboy boots look while those who want shoes that can last for a very long time choose cowboy boots for their kids because they are sturdy.

One also has to note that cowboy boots are great for children because they are very comfortable and protect their feet from the elements as well. Although Rick Perry has mentioned in one of his interviews that leather cowboy boots get cold in Iowa, you can still have the kids wear cowboy boots during winter as long as you make them use socks that are thick to keep those little feet warm.

When buying cowboy boots for your kids, make sure that you get the right size. This is of course the no. 1 thing one should consider because they wont be comfortable if you do not get the right size for them. Since kids usually do not know how to tell their parents that their shoes aren’t comfy enough, it would be best to have your child walk around with the new pair and ask whether it feels comfy or not. Looking at cowboy boot sizes and their translation to regular shoe sizes is also a good idea so that you know what size you will be asking for when buying cowboy boots.

Cowboy boots especially handmade ones are very sturdy and will keep your kids from harm i.e. snake bites if you live in the country and the kids are free to roam the backyard or the farm. Boots also protect kids from barbed wire if they ever come across any.

When is it proper to wear a cowboy boots at the office? Many claim that wearing one at the office is a n-no while others say it’s okay. The answer of course depends where you work and where you are. In cities where cowboy tradition is not really popular, wearing cowboy boots draws attention but not because people in these particular areas are against it but because they are amazed at how good these shoes look. In cities where the cowboy tradition is known but not exactly as a lifestyle but a possible idea for a costume party outfit, wearing cowboy boots inside the office is a major no-no because according to office workers in such places, cowboy boots make one look less corporate and maybe even too casual.

Now is this a general opinion among city dwellers? No one knows really because no one has done a survey just yet but many a fashion blog has spoken against the wearing of cowboy boots in the office, our question is, why? Cowboy boots are comfortable and they are closed shoes so maybe they can be worn under jeans but not really accepted when seen on a woman wearing a skirt.

One particular woman who recounted on her blog abut her being sent a memo regarding how very unprofessional she dresses wrote about such a situation. Nope, her dress was not too short. In fact, she is 50-years-old and according to her can only wear dresses below the knee. It turns out that she was branded as being unprofessional when it comes to her dressing style because she wears cowboy boots. Another point of discussion is where should cowboy boots be worn? Which workplaces allow such shoes? But the more important question is, why are they not allowed in all kinds of offices? Is there a stigma to cowboy boots in certain places somehow or is it just because they draw a lot of attention that other office workers get distracted by them?

Photo via www.rowthree.com

Dating a cowboy is never the same as dating your regular city guy and it’s not just because of the shoes they wear. Aside from cowboy boots and denim, cowboys usually don cowboy hats making them stand out when in a city setting. This turns on city girls to the annoyance probably of city boys but there is something about cowboys and of course something about the country. What makes cowboys so appealing? Is it really them and their cowboy boots and their hats that make them hot? Sure there are cowboys that are oozing with sex appeal but truth be told, there are also those who aren’t so what’s the reason?

Cowboys have a certain appeal to women because of the general image one has of a cowboy. This general image is not necessarily a stereotype because it has been proven to be true for the longest time. What is this general image? The general image as we have been mentioning before is that cowboys are macho –they are the American macho counterpart of the caballeros and bull fighters of Spain and Latin American nations where machismo is celebrated. In country deemed by other nations to not have its own culture, the cowboy stands out as a true blue American tradition at least in areas where cowboys come from. In fact, many would agree that aside from being a melting pot of different peoples, America is the home of the cowboy.

Hollywood has also helped in building the image of the cowboy thanks to movies about the Wild West. Brokeback Mountain did not help in building that image though but not to worry, the movie did not ruin the cowboy image at all because this image has been around for decades nay maybe even for centuries when one looks at it.

Photo via mypinkturtle.com

The development of cowboy boots has always been a wonderful topic for books and documentaries and those who are fond of such shoes relish every bit of detail about it. Its history is interesting –from the time of Genghis Khan to the Spanish caballeros who made their way to America from Mexico to the English riding boots. Although riding boots are an important part of life for the equestrian and their design were already sufficient for riding in terms of protecting the feet and controlling the horse, cattle raisers in America made their own design based on these boots.

There are a lot of different stories pertaining to the origin of cowboy boots. Some say these shoes were of Hessen origin and yep Hessen as in the people from Germany who according to some accounts influenced the development of the riding boots used in Spain. Others historians note however that  cowboy boots date back to the 5^th century during the time of Genghis Khan. So does this mean that that cowboy boots are of oriental in origin? No one is sure really but the fact that no one was able to take note where it really was based on or where it came from meant that it was something people used on a daily basis and that they were not called anything but boots –as generic as that.

This might sound like a strange analysis but this may mean that there is a possibility that the things we find as ordinary in this era might be something that would interest the people in the future. This is the importance of history –people would like to know how things came to be. How did cowboy boots get that kind of design? How did ropers branch out from cowboy boots or riding boots for that matter? We just hope that the things we write about cowboy boots would last long enough that those in the future will know what we know about these boots.

Photo via shopmycloset.blogspot.com

Want to be fashionable? How about getting a new pair of cowboy boots? There is nothing like cowboy boots –they are comfortable to wear, they look great and they never go out of style and did we mention that you can get your hands on a pair of cowboy boots right now? Yep, you already know this but just to remind everyone, you can buy cowboy boots online.

Why should one wear cowboy boots? Cowboy boots are not just for cowboys, they are for celebrities too! Jessica Simpson and Miley Cyrus among others wear cowboy boots even in the heat of the L.A. summer. If that does not convince you that cowboy boots are fashionable and are still in for this season then take a look at a few other reasons as to why you shouldn’t leave those boots in your shoe rack.

Reason No. 1 They are quite comfortable especially in places where it does not get too cold. Leather gets cold sometimes and might not be good for those who have feet problems or ailments such as arthritis or those who have had operations on the back or on the feet. Other than that, you can wear cowboy boots all-year-round –yes even during wintertime as long as you put on some really warm socks.

Reason No. 2 They are sturdy. If you are planning to buy sturdy shoes, there is nothing as sturdy as a good pair of leather cowboy boots. The handmade ones last longer than the mass produced designs but even the latter can last for years.

Reason No. 3 They are a wonderful way to protect your feet. If you work in a ranch for example, wearing a pair of cowboy boots is a good idea because it will protect you from snake bites and from thorns and whatever that can cause an injury.

It seems that red cowboy boots are in fashion again and we can’t help but look for a few photos of men and women in red cowboy boots.

Photo via stealthestyle.com

Red cowboy boots are sexy –just check out Jessica Simpson rocking a pair in the Dukes of Hazzard movie. The Daisy red leather cowboy boots are pull on style boots that feature a pointy-toed design. The heels are stacked and probably have man-made soles. We are not sure but we heard that the Jessica Simpson shoe line sells one of these. There are ways to get your hands on these pull-on cowboy boots, all you need to do is do some research.

Photo via fanpop.com

Do you watch How I Met Your Mother? If you do you probably remember that one guy who wore his red cowboy boots outside of his pants because according to him, apparently red cowboy boots are in again. He speaks the truth though even if he somehow looked ridiculous in his red cowboy boots contrary to what the gay community (in the series) said. The cowboy boots are quite nice if one looks at the photo above. There are better looking red cowboy boots though so brace yourselves for more photos to come.

Tadaaaa!!!!

Red cowboy boots look great with dresses (Photo via craftzine.com)

Yes, another photo of uber cute red cowboy boots and a rather cute dress too. The dress folks can be found in thrift shops and not here but if you like the dress too, you might find something like it somewhere online.

There are quite a few brands to choose from that offer beautiful, red cowboy boots. Frye for example has some beautiful red cowboy boots with different designs. So why is the color red so appealing? Other colors are wonderful too really but red just symbolizes bravery and even sexiness. For some however, red symbolizes war but hey, if you want boots that will get the attention of many, red cowboy boots are the answer.

Photo via plan59.com

Boss of the Plains is a phrase we all know so well. The type of cowboy hat manufactured by Stetson is a flat-brimmed headgear that features a straight crown. It also had round corners. According to historical accounts, Boss of the Plains was manufactured in 1865 and became quite a hit among cowboys despite the popularity of the bowler’s hat during those times.

Because of its lightness and its natural color, the hat with a four-inch crown gradually became the standard hat in the west. Since Stetsons are made from felt, they are also waterproof making it possible for the owner of the hat to use it like a pail.

It also had a plain hatband making it possible for the user of the hat to adjust the size. The sweatband, according to historical accounts, bore the name of Stetson. While Stetson only made one style of hat, Stetsons came in different qualities depending on the materials used for the hat. Regular hats with one-grade material were sold at $5 a piece while those that boasted pure beaver felt were sold at $30 at the time.

Although the bowler’s hat was quite popular in that era, J.B. Stetson marketed the Boss of the Plains and later on, the cowboy hat we fondly call the Stetson became an icon and a universal image of the West. This somehow built a reputation for the West, with its charisma and its taste for adventure. During the 19^th century and the early part of the 20^th century, hats were needed by every man. In fact, it was an indispensable item. This is where Stetson got the idea of focusing on making high quality and expensive hats since hats were considered as an investment for every working cowboy and a fashion statement for men who lived in the city.

Cowboy boots are riding boots that later on became rather popular among cowboys because of its sturdiness. Cowboy boots have a Cuban heel – a type of heel used by both men and women in olden times. This type of heel, experts believe, goes back to 9^th Century Persia giving it quite a history.

Modern cowboy boots are commonly made from cowhide but sometimes, bootmakers make them from exotic leather i.e. alligator, ostrich, lizard, snake and other skins. Apart from Cuban heels, cowboy boots also feature rounded to pointed toes and a high shaft. Unlike other riding boots, cowboy boots have no lacing. Although cowboy boots feature different toe shapes, the usual design is often narrowed bordering to pointy toed.
– Cowhide Ropers, are some of the most popular boots. –

There are 2 types of cowboy boots, one is the classic version more popularly known as the western cowboy boot, the other is classed as a roper. The western or classic style is characterized by a tall shaft reaching mid-calf. It also usually has an angled heel. The heel height usually reaches over an inch high. Sometimes some cowboy boots feature slightly lower heels called walking heels.

Considered as a newer design, the roper has a shorter shaft compared to the classic cowboy boots. Stopping above the ankle, this type of boots also feature squared-off heels. Ropers are usually used by those who join rodeo shows. The heels are just an inch high or even lower, have rounded toes and have laces. The lace-up style of these boots is to ensure that the ropers do not come off while riding a horse –in a rather wild manner. The safety of the rider is of course one of the main reasons why ropers have a lace-up design.

Both designs –the roper and the classic cowboy boot style are available in cowboy boot shops. They are also sold online.
Boot City has a very nice selection of Ostrich Skin Ropers available in the store and on the internet.

Attention ladies! This one’s for you. If you love cowboy boots and love Lucchese, you will surely fall in love with the Charlie 1 Horse collection specifically the fashion boots items from the brand.

One of our favorites for this season is this beautiful stiletto boots in black made from calf leather. It has a height of 13” and very nice stiletto heels.

If you want something in scarlet however, this uber beautiful stiletto boots from Lucchese is something you should take a look at. The item number for this one is l4681 and it is definitely one of the best designs coming from the Charlie 1 Horse collection.

The first two boots featured in this article are great for either casual or formal fashion. If you have a rather strict workplace that requires you to wear formal work clothes, you can wear these under your trousers. If you are looking for something more rugged however, there are quite a few Charlie 1 Horse boots in Lucchese’s online catalog that you might want to take a look at.

This fashion cowboy boot from Lucchese with item number l4786 is made from calf and has a beautiful golden tan embellishment. The height is 12” and is available in 6-10 B sizes. Made from calf leather, these fashion triad lazer slouch boots are definitely a wonderful choice. We truly love this one because of its very unique design. As for the price, it would be best to go to the official website of Lucchese to check it out.

Do not worry though because even if Lucchese is a known name when it comes to boots, the prices are not over the top. They are still quite affordable considering that they are made from premium materials and are quite sturdy too. So what are you waiting for? Get these boots today at BootCity.com

Photos via Lucchese.com

If you want to know more about your ropers, you may want to take a look at the history of riding boots. Being a big part of equestrian life, riding boots have been around for centuries and up until the industrial age, riding boots and classic boots for that matter were individually handmade. They were of course in many other styles apart from the 2 styles of boots we know of today. Early cowboy boots, according to history, along with their accoutrements, were influenced by the Spanish vaquero that dates back to the early part of the 16^th century. Another influence of riding boots includes military boots used by the cavalries.

The vaquero or its Portuguese counterpart the vaqueiro is a livestock herder mounted on a horse. This tradition goes back to the Iberian peninsula. One has to take into consideration however that the vaquero tradition also developed in Mexico being a Spanish colony. The Spanish and Mexican vaquero proved to be quite an influence in the Old West.

According to history, cattle herders from Mexico traveling with Jesuit priest Eusebio Kino in the year 1687 travelled to California, bringing with them the vaquero tradition.

More expeditions were done, another one in 1769 and then in 1774. The latter is called the Juan de Anza expedition. The men who joined the expedition became the first ever cowboys in the area. Today, the vaquero tradition is also known as a Texas tradition. Another term that is associated with this tradition is the buckaroo which according to history is considered a corruption of the vaquero.

When the vaqueros have already influenced the people in the region with their cattle herding tradition, riding boots were used by most men in the area. During the industrial revolution, riding boots were already mass produced. Further developments were done years before of course and by that time, mass produced boots were already called Wellingtons.